Part the first

  Nature’s Arcana lay before my eys, And I, unrav’ling her hid misterys, Unto the yet unknowing world did show What circles Phoebus & the starrs doe goe: When Venus & how often Phoebe wanes, 5 And why the interposing Earth disdains That shee should fill up her whole orb of light And overwhelms her with the shades of night; How slowly aged Saturn walks, & where Is nimble Mercury’s more active sphere; 10 How soon the winter suns doe set, & why Night hangs so long upon the Northern sky, [f. 160v] With all the rest of heav’n’s variety. I writ of whispring winds, Æolian blasts, How Jove his lightning & his thunder casts; 15 How rigid frosts, how hoary snows are bred; How sucking plants with nightly dews are fed; How bubling fountains from the earth do spring, Which rivers back into the Ocean bring; How often Neptune storms the shores &, when 20 Weary, retires into his urn agen. At last my towring thoughts aspir’d too high, Aiming to fathom vast Eternity, When a thick mist, such as foreruns a damp, With azure wings did hang about my lamp. 25 My flame grew dimm; the overpowred light, Fading, retir’d into the womb of night. My hand was with benumming palzys seizd, And sacred flames were in my bosome raizd. Amaz’d, I started, & behold! the sky, [f. 161r] Op’ning the treasures of serenity, Darted such beams of light into my eye As did amaze my weak mortality. O hold it back, good heav’n: the flam’s too fierce And does like flights of winged arrows pierce 35 The nervs of human sight; it will destroy Those eys that would too much at once enjoy. As pris’ners to a dungeon long confind, When to their liberty they are resign’d, Must by degrees view the celestiall ray, 40 And sparingly at first make use of day: So show these glorys to my weaker sight, For our world’s noon day to this glorious light Is Stygian darknesse & Cymmerian night. But stay, methinks I’ve viewd these flames so long, 45 That with the very sight my eys grow strong. Like a true chicken of the Eagle now, Contracting furrowd wrinkles on my brow, With an unconquerd sight I can behold All the bright beams that heaven could unfold; [f. 161v] Outstare the midday Sun, & with my eye Strike back these rays into their native sky. Whilst thus my soule was lost in extasys, Ravisht & swallowd in ethereall bliss, In which I wisht for long eternitys, 55 A sudden murmur did surprize my ear With ghastly horrour & the world with fear, As though the winds had all combind in one To shake the steddy world’s foundation. The sound encreasing flew from pole to pole 60 And round the surface of the earth did rowl; The hollow waters roard, the ecchoing waves Were rent, & showd the seamen’s liquid graves. Nature her self stood all agast, & thought This voice her last & gen’rall summons brought. 65 But after this a quiet silence came And recompos’d the earth’s disorderd frame; When from farr distant regions of the sky, More milky now then th’ auncient Galaxy, A vernall gale (each moment wonders brings) [f. 162r] And nine white-featherd Eagles with their wings Waft mee aloft: I force the yeelding air And cut my passage tow’rd the starry sphere. Farewell, dull Earth; England, a long adieu— England, my native Country, I of you 75 Must take my leave. O mayst thou e’re retain Peace in thy self & Empire o’er the main, Thou Island destind (if fore knowledge can Bee harboured within the brest of man) To honour’s most sublime meridian. 80 And now methinks the drossy globe of Earth Is shrinking into what was first its birth, An empty nothing; the vast tracts o’ th’ East And all the golden Kingdoms of the West, The Northern Crowns, & the black Africk shore 85 Can show themselvs unto my eys no more. O foolish man! that canst employ thy mind To heap up Treasures thou must leave behind; Foolish Ambition, that dost strive t’ attain [f. 162v] That height from whence thou headlong falst again; More foolish they that in loose pleasures live, Making their names in infamy survive. The world is now compact of such as these, And man, alas, is swallowd up in vice. Fraud, malice, treachery & avarice, 95 And heaping riches up by bloody crimes Is the continuall practise of these times. But you Philosophers, whose pious mind To th’ search of reall knowledge is inclind, Mount up with mee; this region doth not know 100 Those dangers that you live in there below. Here, here you’r safe, the threatning storms are past; You can’t bee reacht by the Æolian blast. The grumbling Thunders farr beneath appear, Bursting themselvs & rend the troubled air. 105 But while I speak, behold I’m hurry’d on, And now I’m past the regions of the Moon. All Hail, fair Cynthia; thy argent light Seems more like Empresse of the day then night. Those cloudy spots that hung upon thy brow, [f. 163r] Of which poor Mortalls talk so much below, Are vanisht quite, & a new heav’n-born grace Irradiats all the circle of thy face. Surely this lustre wee thy own may name, Nor is thy brother authour of this flame. 115 Who next is hee, that in the neigh’b’ring sphere Unconstant still & wav’ring does appear? It should bee Mercury, but that my eys, Surpriz’d with manifold varietys, Distrust themselvs: but yet I see tis hee, 120 By often change & instability. And now approaching, I perceive his hand Grasping the powerfull Hermetick wand. “Hail, heaven’s chief Ambassadour! By thee The Gods to man reveal what they decree 125 In their celestiall courts. But pardon, O, If from the Earthy regions below, Without thy previous summons, I presume. To enter thy bright circle; for I come, [f. 163v] Calld by great Hermes up.” “Welcom,” said hee, “For each that knows the form of Mercury, And finds the Center of my blest aboad, Himself assumes the nature of a God, And travels freely through the starry road. Wherefore, thou new divinity, receive 135 The greatest present Maia’s Sonn can give, My fam’d Caduceus, & therewith command The ayry heav’n, the liquid Seas, the Land And the dark bottomeless abysse. The wind I can by this in stronger fetters bind 40 Then they in the Æolian caverns find. I stay the falling thunder, I appease The furious tumults of the angry Seas. As to the earth’s Inhabitants, on them I bring illusions, with a golden dream 145 Feeding their fancys. The Imperiall theme Swells up their hopes, till they forget that they, Like other Mortalls, are compact of clay. Yet they at last, like others, find they have A naturall declination to the grave. [f. 164r] The gloomy land of silence, when I come, Yawns wide & opens ev’ry marble room, For mee to choose out of what ever tomb I please to call the sleeping bones. Nay even Beyond the bank of Lethe there is given 155 To mee eternall pow’r. From all the stores That have inhabited those darksome shores So many ages, I can bring what soul I order to review the starry pole.” This said, with colours more then the bright bow 160 Upon the arch of watry heav’n does show, Hee opend all the treasures of his light To my amazed eys, then vanisht out of sight. At his departure, though, the nimble God (Behold!) enricht mee with his magick rod. 165 Bright Venus next I see: Fair beauty’s queen Whose inward tincture is the purest green, Th’ Embleme of vegetation, altho’ Thy outward garments have a Solar show. But they are truly Sophi who doe know [f. 164v] What you produce when, with your Lover met, You’r clos’d in Vulcan’s artificiall net. Yet, if the scarlet tincture I have made, Like to those ruddy drops that, when you strayd In search of your Adonis, you did shedd 175 Upon the maiden rose & dy’d it redd, Bee then propitious & doe not disdain T’ admit th’ approaches of a mortall man Unto thy lucid orb. And now I Come to the Phœbean ray, 180 The fountain and originall of day. How come my optick nervs so strong to bear The emanations of the flaming sphere, That from the sources of eternall light Come gushing forth, & dash against my sight? 185 O sacred orb of fire! heav’n’s glorious eye, The firmament’s resplendent Majesty; Sole measurer of time, that glideth by In ages, days & hours incessantly Into the Ocean of eternity; [f. 165r] Great Planetary God, that dost disperse Thy all-preserving heat through th’ universe! Thee all the lower world with joy receive, And seem with thy approaches to revive. At thy bright smiles the meads their verdure show; 195 To thee the trees their leavy garments ow; Bacchus & Ceres by thy influence grow. The Orientall gemms, the western gold Breed in those beds which thou dost most behold. To man himself thou dost new soul inspire, 200 Kindling within him a more youthfull fire. But what a change is here? Behold, I see (’Twould strike a terrour in another’s eye) Some Martiall Gyant in bright armour clad; An Iron Helmet does surround his head, 205 Hee’s all compact of Ir’n, and all around The cannon’s rowling Eccho’s doe resound, Instead of musick. Crimson Ensigns beat The wav’ring air, & make the winds retreat. His eys speak fury, his contracted brow [f. 165v] Presages dismall warrs at hand, & now Hee draws his cruell faulchion; streams of blood The fearfull glimmering of the steel doe cloud. “Great Centinell of Heav’n, stern God of warr, Withold thy angry blow, till I declare 215 The cause that brought mee to thy Martiall sphere. I come not armed with a Scythian blade, That might with rude hostility invade Thy sacred territorys. O, behold This branch of ever-vegetable Gold, 220 This lamp enclosing an ethereall ray, The type & embleme of eternall day.” This said, his fury spent it self; his face Was all becalm’d with a majestick grace. So, sure, hee looks when, from the warr’s allarms 225 Returning to his lovely Venus’ arms, Shee melts his anger with her pleasing charms. But then, in answer, with a voyce as loud As thunder bursting from a hollow cloud: “Go on,” said hee, “& bee the happiest [f. 166r] That nature ever with these secrets blest. Go on, thou glory of the Earthen orb; My arms thy passadge never shall disturb.” Jove was the next; his glorious charriot shone Not much inferiour to an argent throne. 235 “Wellcome,” said hee, “to my dominions, O Thrice happier then those thou lefst below. Let diamonds impale the Regall brow, Let golden circles on their foreheads grow, And numerous troops of trembling nations bow— 240 Their subjects’ love they never truly know. That which to beasts is common they enjoy, But cannot like your all-discerning eye Pierce to the depth of nature’s secresy, Which they would wish they could with Empires buy. 245 While they to baser pleasures are inclind, Pure Contemplations are your joys, refind Above the region of a vulgar mind. Thoughts subtiliz’d, an elevated soul Whom all the pow’rs of fate cannot controul, [f. 166v] Fixt like the starr that keeps the Northern pole— While all the rest o’ th’ giddy world does rowl, While the weak scepter & the tottring Crown From their unstable basis tumble downe. Great Sons of art, Inventors of no lesse 255 Then negro Africk’s Kingdoms doe possesse; Then old Asturia, or the glittring oar Columbus found upon the western shore; Then all the di’monds that the Orient sees, Or diving pearls that fill the Persian seas— 260 Masters of secrets, that from th’ vulgar eye Doe coucht in the Metallick Kingdome lye (Secrets wherein the Angels doe rejoyce, Chanting them forth with their melodious voyce; Secrets which heaven does so rarely show, 265 And never but upon th’ elect bestow)— Bee private still: as seamen rocks, so shun The crowned head & the vainglorious throne.” Thus having said, hee sent mee from his side One of his bright Attendants for a guide, [f. 167r] Who, when hee came in view of Saturn’s fire, Back to his former station did retire. “Grave Father Saturn, does that hoary snow, That sits upon thy lofty forehead, show The number of thy years? or dost thou choose 275 This form wherin to show thy self to us, As long since did the auncient of days, When hee to Daniell showd his rev’rend face?” “Dear Son,” said hee, “in thirty solar years I move around the Planetary spheres; 280 In thirty circles I’ve scarce thirty known That e’re the whiteness of these locks would own— Like those Philosophers that seing snow Disputed whether it was black or noe. But now together let us hast away: 285 The great Assembly of the wise doe stay.” Then Father-like hee claspt me in his arms, In whose embrace I felt so many charms— Surely the Angels in immortall bliss Can hardly find more solid joys then this. [f. 167v] Wee fly, like arrows from the Cretan bow, And leave our towring Eagles farr below. Wee mount up to those sacred regions where The bright æthereall beams did first appear, Regions beyond the reach of human eye, 295 Beyond the view of dark astronomy With long-stretcht telescopes. Methinks wee passe To th’ utmost bounds & last extent of place: So farr true science is sublim’d above What other Mortals most adore & love. 300 [f. 168r] While thus wee posted through that ayry way That leads to regions of eternall day, My eys perceivd amidst those radiant beams An opacke solid masse; and now it seems A citty standing on th’ ethereall plains, 305 Which nothing but the liquid air sustains, And circumfused light. Then Saturn said, “View the foundations well that here are layd; This is the seat that the eternall mind For universall monarchy designd. 310 No nation then shall bee unconquerd, none But must submit to this Imperiall throne. When to these misterys time shall give birth, [f. 168v] It shall possesse the navel of the earth. Now ’tis the mansion of those lofty souls 315 Whose speculations soar beyond the poles. They, aiming at Hermetick secrets, fly Above the middle regions of the sky Upon the backs of winged Eagles; I Receive them there, & th’ other part o’ th’ way 320 Doe them enclasping in my arms convey. This is the business that I must effect, Till I compleat the number o’ th’ elect. Then heav’n’s great Emp’rour shall his mercy show, Strewing his blessings equally below. 325 Truth & firm peace o’re all the world shall reign; Justice from heaven shall return agen To bee for ever conversant with men. The fabrick of the Earth shall bee renewd, the face Of heav’n illustrated with a more youthfull grace.” 330 “But father Saturn, who are those I see Disperst about the plains?” “They are,” said hee, “Some pious souls, well wishers to these arts, [f. 169r] Who with intents sincere & honest hearts This noble science studyed to attain; 335 Though by ill chance their studys prov’d in vain, Surprized either with their Country’s fall, Or their own unexpected funerall. These has great heaven’s all-rewarding grace Blest with the neighb’rhood of this happy place. 340 “Hee that you see in armour clad, design’d To have left the warrs & have improv’d his mind In sophick knowledge, but his country calld; His sov’raine Prince, in fear of being enthralld, Did crave his aid. He drew his sword, he fought; 345 The conquest with his death was dearly bought. Eternall memory preservs his fame, And after ages shall adore his name. “But there is one most of his time had spent To form the method of an argument 350 In prating Logick, till at length hee bent His mind to Alchymy—too late, alack, So great an enterprize to undertake. [f. 169v] His secret caverns, his immortall fire, The apparitions answerd his desire. 355 The crow was gon, the silver Dove was near, And a celestiall candour did appear Ore all the mass. I’ th’ middle of his joys, Death him together with his work destroys. Unhappy hee! that had not in his youth 360 Searcht for this hidden, for this onely truth. All other sciences are frail & vain, Slight as the frothy bubbles of the main. “There goes a noble soul; his lofty mind, Aiming above the rest of human kind, 365 Had with this art no lesse a change designd Then that of th’ universe: America Had seen her Isthmus cut, & Africa By tides of Erythræan waves been rent Forever from the wondring continent. 370 Hee’d searcht the secrets of the North & made His mariners the frozen seas invade, To force a passage for Cataian trade. [f. 170r] But Christianity so much posest And had the Empire of his tender brest, 375 That above all things, hee did first intend To force the sword of Mahomet to bend Beneath the conqur’ing Crosse. Their Crescent att his sight began to wane, Presaging the downfall of Ottoman. 380 But time was not yet ripe enough to show Those long-expected blessings there below. “Shee, though a woman, sought the Golden Fleece, As long since did Mary the Prophetesse. Her silver hair about her shoulders spred, 385 Her smiling babe does leane his tender head Upon the milky breast whereon hee fed. Hee was soe nearly linkt unto her heart, That, as on earth, soe here they could not part. “The last that comes in view is one who, though 390 Hee in this search did youthfull years bestow, Yet tedious processes in abstruse verse, And the Ænigmas of Philosophers, [f. 170v] Dedalean tracks, & Labyrinthian ways Too soon consum’d the number of his days. 395 Hee markt his eggs with figures, & hee thought The art might bee by calculation got. Good man! that took Astrology to bee The key of Hermes’s Philosophy.” “But, O good Father, what dark vales are those?” 400 “Those on the left? The dungeons that enclose All that on studious Tyros did impose, Or guild the credulous Adventurer With hopes of Golden mines, I know not where. The Sun, the starrs, nor all these beams of light 405 Can pierce the darknesse of their foggy night; Onely false fire with a glow worme ray Shows a dull draught of counterfeited day. “Here is a troop of diverse sorts: the one Attaind the knack of hardening a gun; 410 “Th’ other would sink the Thunderer of France By hop poles, charg’d with pulvis Fulminans. [f. 171r] “That made Granados, from whose bursting womb Sulphureous fires, like those of Ætna, come To send mankind to their untimely graves, 415 Involvd in flames, or swallowd up in waves. “There goes the Paduan; to advance his trade, Hee thought the great Elixir to have made. But erring, on our books the fault hee laid, Prophand the writings of the just, & rayld 420 At all the righteous, because he faild. “And there’s another. Astrologick Sot! In his starcht band & his lac’t Chamelot Coat, Like the Hague Calf hee over all the nation, To ev’ry audience with a feeling passion, 425 Relates his autopsie of Transmutation. “Three more there are in those dark vales confind For sin committed onely in their mind: It was no less then a prophane desire Prometheus-like to steal th’ Immortall fire. 430 “The next went merchandizing up & down To buy up all th’ experiments o’ th’ Town; Runns to the presse & vents them for his own, [f. 171v] Till at length palsys, time, & hastend age Finisht the scene, & pulld him from the Stage. 435 “His man behind him carrys at his back The novum Lumen of th’ Infernall Lake. ’Cause sulphur vulgar is too small a curse, These sinners for themselvs invent a worse: Instead of Styx, Cocytus, Phlegeton 440 They choose to flame in Urine of their own. “Hee diggd & delvd his garden round about To find the vegetable Secret out, And told admiring fools how hee had seen Th’ Hesperian fruit on trees forever green. 445 “His namesake swore he had the Golden truth, And took his God a witnesse to his oath In sacramentall Elements; but when, Five hundred sterling being spent in vain, The valiant Collonel no more could drain 450 From his poor Cully, to reward him after Hee offerd him a Philipp at his daughter. [f. 172r] “There’s a bold Briton, with his portion thought An aqua gradatoria to have bought; But the grosse cheat made him in anger call 455 For the last refuge of great Hanniball. See how hee, there in’s priestly robes, impleads His adversary, whom Alecto leads Before the Grossian throne, where hee amain For holy Church’s sake prays for his gold again. 460 “Next is the Turk; a thousand guinnys bleed To sow his Holy Isle with Mustard seed. “Hee with black tresses & a swarthy face, As if descended of a Magick race, Neglecting all the Learned Sophi said 465 And bidding heav’n defiance, to his aid Invoked ev’ry diabolick Shade. “Ther’s a Caball of twelve formd in a dream, When bred from Claret fumes the Nightmare came And rid the snoring Trunck. The revelation 470 Was soon emproved by Predestination. Argues the Cynick: ‘’tis ordaind, I see, [f. 172v] Wee should o’ th’ number o’ th’ Apostles bee.’ Their Gownman’s purblind, soe hee hopes to feel The stone. The drunken Brother Sots, being still 475 Desirous that their giddy brains should reel, Have been at charge to buy Ixion’s wheel. A Quack was Oratour that would have shown Diana’s nakednesse to all the Town, But was mistaken & produc’t his own: 480 For which hee now blames Æolus & raves For winds to ruffle the Batavian waves, And bury all his works in watry graves, As hee supprest his Anti-Helmont leaves. And now, to crown the Tribe, I cant afford 485 Their Corypheus to bee lesse then Lord. Had man the calm tranquillity of Heaven, And all the Patience of an Angel given, ’Twould raise disdain & Anger in his heart To see them thus debauch the noble Art 490 With Nectar bowls, & Hermes’s royall book So balderdasht with Littleton & Cook.” [f. 173r] “But who is hee that does ignobly shrowd His gloomy head within a sable cloud?” “Tis one, whose glittring temples all around 495 Were heretofore with noble garlands bound, But all being spent, was pointed at & shown The odium & the laughter of the Town, The saplesse remnant of ——. Fantastick man! that would so soon have gaind 500 What th’ auncient wisemen with long toils attaind, And would not stay the time that fate ordaind. A year, a month, a week’s too long delay; The Coach, the park, the Court call him away. O, could it but bee compast in a day, 505 No man had been more diligent then hee In search of this profound Philosophy. “Cartoon waits on him, holding in a string (The bearer had deserved some such thing) His Golden sixpence, for those thresholds yet 510 Were never shutt against a fawning cheat, But like the gates of Hell, lay day & night [f. 173v] Open to every damnd accursed Hypocrite. “That unborn Doctour to the world did come Untimely taken from his mother’s womb. 515 Ungratefull Viper! that could sting to death The tender Parent that first gave him breath. Yet, O what heaps of treasure has hee got By picling Venus in a mustard pot? “Hee with all other seekers is at odds, 520 Offring his painted Cabalistick Godds May dew in spunges & divining Rodds. “The next is wise: from his own onely store Hee drew supplys unto his Athanor, And thus farr forth attained his desire 525 Never to want materialls for his fire. “This plac’t his heaven in Transparency, Like the Chrystalline bubble of the Tree That heretofore entombd the Roman Bee. “That with false Opticks magnifyd a mole 530 Into an Atlas to uphold the Pole. Yet all his Art hides not his golden wyre [f. 174r] Soe long excruciate in Spirituall fire, Untill nine Eagled gallons doe expire. “The next with his Thermometer in’s hand 535 For refuge fled into that darksome Land. Tis much, when Chymicks turn State Pamphleteers, That they goe home intire with both their ears. “And hee you see so busy’s working still, And rowls the Stone up the Sisyphian Hill. 540 Fantastick menstruums of severall sorts, Inclos’d in thirty severall retorts, Digested in alcoholized wine— Untill at length hee made his chamber shine With reall flames, & took them for divine. 545 “But see how haughty looks the Swedish Lord That would have bought the crown of Mombelliard, To make Stanchiani Captain of his guard, “While good Rabell’s curing with Vitrioll His wounded cat & keeps her bleeding soul 550 From transmigrating through a oylet-hole. “Joachime Beker, thou Bavarian Quack, [f. 174v] States-man & privy-Counsellour, alack Thy Minera Arenaria proves a Sack Of reall sand, to load thy groaning back, 555 From which & linseed oyl thy friends doe hold Thou didst extract thy Horizontall Gold. “But good friend Casimer, why dost thou Tann Thy Lyon green, & make him look so wann? Let him not roar so terribly, I pray, 560 To fright friend Billing that hee cannot weigh The augmentation of his Western clay. “Besides, thy whelps are noxious to the Hunn, The Wilton Operatour; Such a tunn Of humane garbadge never yet was shown 565 Since Sir John Falstaffe layd his carcasse down.” “And Gracious father, pray informe mee what Most strange Amphibious animall is that?” “’T’s a Soland bird whose cradle was the Seas, Plowd with as many furrows as his face; 570 Bred up a Tartar, by his trade he cheats The world with six & thirty Alphabets. [f. 175r] To brimstone therefore & to fire I see Ely in anger hath condemned thee, With Jacob Toll, to whom free leave was giv’n 575 To carry down with him his Chymick Heav’n And make a Sale in Hell. For Amsterdam, From whence the Merchant & his Cargo came, Lov’d present Money better than the Name Or hopes of any sort of Heav’n; & so 580 Down, down he dropt to market there below. “Stay see! there’s one says hee has seen eleven, But never yet could make his number even By getting twelve. The next with pains & toil Conveyd himself into that little Isle, 585 And thought to plant it with Adepts; the soil Not being fit for bearing such a grain, Hee’s for that Scurvy whimsy of his brain Condemnd like the Danaides in vain To fill those urns that still run out again. 590 “With them’s a Ridgell, in a Consultation About the dangerous posture of the nation. Nor was hee safe, till hee to York had got To keep his Protestant dissenting throat From th’ holy daggers of the Popish plot. 595 Where, sparing Nature giving him but one, Hee would not wear it out, least having none And failing of the Artificial stone, Hee should at th’ fair bee for an Eunuch shown. [f. 175v] “Now, if your eys can pierce so deep, find out In that great pond the little Salmon trout. See how industriously hee plys about, As when at Court hee gave his suppliant bills To have a patent for his Fam’ly Pills, And sell the Pow’rs of herbs without their wills. 605 “There goes a shoale of giddy-headed fools, Distorted in their bodys all, but more distorted souls. This trades in Cocheneal; the one-eyd Sot Pudders in Sal Enixe & Alembrot; A third in Chrystall: can’t that ugly face 610 Make him in anger break his looking-glasse? “The fourth did th’ help of Torrid Vulcan crave; ’Twas well his flaming house was not his grave. Yet hee’s for this preferrd before the rest: Hee Phoenix-like made Bold to fire his Nest. 615 “The fifth was for a gentle heat, & so Hee lives in fimo & in Balneo. “The sixt was haughty, ignorant, & rich; He profferd summs of ready coin, for which [f. 177r] Hee’s thither damnd: as great a sin, almost, As Magus purchasing the Holy Ghost. “The seaventh’s a Mountebank that stands before thee: Stantem oportet Imperatorem mori. In glazen orbs hee caught the golden ray, The pure ethereall essence of the day. 625 From whose example his disciples soon Betooke themselvs to milk the Lab’ring Moon. ‘The Divel’s in’t,’ cry they, ‘if joynd in one These two ferment not to the Sophick stone.’ “There’s a Conjunction triple of the Savoy Cheat, 630 A smith & Consul, all Confederate, To sham projection by a Golden crown, And make a doting Alderman o’th’ Town A hundred ounces to the work advance, Which fizz’d away in aurum fulminans. 635 “But is not this a shark, that at a chop Has eaten upp a famous Drugster’s shop? Therefore, but with great secresy, I tell yee The learned Chymick Surgeon in his belly [f. 177v] May find the Stone. There’s Antimony first, His tender Sophick infant, to bee nurst By Basile Valentine, & with great care Provided of a Coach to take the air. Nay, rather than not his due Attendance have, Three hundred Monks shall wipe the little knave. 645 His Sister Ar’snick next & Marcasite, With store of Lazuli & Haematite; Brimstone & Nitre exc’lently refind, And Montispelian Tartar new calcind; Man’s blood & hair, dung, excrement & lice, 650 Arabian gumms & Orientall spice Duly collected from the Asian shore; Talc, Allum, Sandover & thousands more Then Revell’s art of memory can scan: More then the dull Arithmetick of man 655 Or fables printed by the Pelican. Ah cankerd varlets! An ungracious race As ever yet inhabited the face [f. 178r] Of a most blessed Isle. How oft have I, In nightly visions from the azure sky 660 Descending down, & in the open day, But all in vain urgd you to cast away These fond Chimaeras?” “Who there is hee that frowns so sullenly?” “Tis one at whose confus’d Nativity 665 Heav’n & the fatall Sisters lookt awry. His Saturn first with a quadrantall ray Defil’d the dawn of his unlucky day. Then Mars, in square to Maia’s winged Son, And in conjunction partile with his moon, 670 Afflicts her influence; to the falling Sun Jove was oppos’d & Venus in exile: Sad scheme indeed, where not a starr did smile. But though to him the heavens were so unkind, Yet hee still keeps the Angells in his mind, 675 And dunns them for the golden Recipe, Urging the bond which in the bloome of May His adversary is oblig’d to pay, [f. 178v] Without deceit, abatement or delay. “There’s a whole painting family—the brother, 680 The sister, with the Father & the Mother— All carefully conceal from one another Their secret work which is indeed (O rare!) Eggshells calcind & Elementall air, With flying Engines got & brought with care 685 From regions beyond the Atmosphere. “And there’s one Revells in the art; pray see What a compound hee makes of Auchymy! Who can abstain from ridiculing such A role of signposts who admire so much 690 The Doctours making all the Planets touch? “Let us not here forget the fam’d Beloon, In print who strongly promist to the town That hee’d make this Metropolis his seat— After so many travells the retreat 695 Of his old age. And yet how soon could hee (More then mercurial instability) Exchange great Julius Caesar’s auncient Towr [f. 179r] For oyster pools upon the Essex shore? “Now that their Hell, like th’old, may have a Queen, 700 See there comes down a stately Proserpine, Dropt from the Colledge. Her first bankrupt love, At sight of her, fled to that thorny grove, For hee by curst experience did know No thorn was sharper then an untam’d shrow. 705 Yet now shee’s gentle, leading in her hand Th’ adopted son of Ione’s Stygian band (Poor caterpillars of th’ Alsatian land), Which to deserve, hee to the world did show His horns could by anticipation grow, 710 Before the Church’s ceremoniall rite Made them one Chymicall Hermaphrodite. “But good Sir yorkshire, with your hic & haec, Pray vail your bonnet to Romancing Beck. O heav’n, that in the dungeons under ground 715 Miraculous experiments are found— Full four & twenty ounces from a pound! Now the two fishes & the barley bread, [f. 179v] That by divine multiplication fed Of godly Jews above a thousand head, 720 Will want due admiration, if wee Allow these things in human Chymistry. “Gentleman Joyner! pray why didst thou yoke Thy flying Windmills at St Saviour’s Dock To tumble thither? Thy extract of chalk 725 Is but the Caput mortuum of the Lake That is forever damnd to mourn in black. Thy soapy bubbles, which thou didst compare To the bright arch of Juno’s messenger, Are broken all & vanisht into air.” 730 “But who is hee so jocund & so gay? His nimble stepps seem to devour his way.” “A hasty Doctour travelling to Dover, Whose Rosy-crucian friend sent for him over. And so hee posts along, but in their prime 735 His joys were blasted. In the nick of time His correspondent falls & (which is worse) Kickt by an ignorant Anti-sophick horse. [f. 180r] “Call, call the Smithfield farrier! Arise, Thou Muggletonian with thy goggling eyes, 740 To blesse his bursten belly as hee dyes. “Then see the Chymick Tantalus, a wight Fam’d in all vice—a thief, a Sodomite, Incestuous, blasphemer, parricide— False to himself & all the world beside. 745 His faith at first was of a Popish hew, Next Teckelitish; then from Turk & Jew Hee centerd in the Atheistick crew. Ah daring sinner! that with hands so foul, A heart ungodly & polluted soul, 750 Wouldst make essentiall purity. Yet can There bee a crime that is too black for man, When, like th’ old Gyants, they would pull their God Down from his blest ethereall aboad? But Divine vengeance finds them out, though late, 755 And the pale wretch sinks underneath the weight Of the Almighty’s scourge. Wherefore you see The hunger-starved Caitif’s chain’d to the tree, [f. 180v] Where golden fruit still tempt his longing eye, Yet from his cursed hand the loaded branches fly. 760 Beneath him streams of Chrystall waters glide, But when hee stoops their currents turn aside. And yet to this, to add eternall smart, Nine vulturs gnaw his still-renewing heart. “Ah poor Eugenius! how cam’st thou to fall, 765 From Anthroposophia magicall, Into the burning lake? Nay then I see (Though men said one) that thou hadst ne’re an eye. Yet thou disputest More & More. They say Sweet Orpheus once with his harmonious lay 770 Did charme the list’ning rivers & the lakes, The Hills with their green garments on their backs; And to his voyce tame Lyons with the Lamb, The wolvs in peace, the fawns in friendshipp came, And tygers mixt with sheep. But I’me afraid That thou hast preacht thy congregation madd. [f. 181r] “Shee crownd with Ivy, like Llewellyn’s head, Believd the Art, ’cause shee believ’d her bread By Rome’s impostors transubstantiated. Rare Oculist indeed! that can deny 780 The pow’r of seing to a perfect eye. Yet, though vast summs blowing the coals shee spent, Lost nothing by the fiery Element, But thrive from ashes. There goes after her One that from Mercury & gunpowder 785 And artificial spawds proceeded on, Th’ Imperiall Image of his prince to coin. But law & Justice would not give him scope: Hee found himself intangled in a rope. “That Wapponeer, with his Pistolls d’Espaign 790 Wrapt upp in Ivy leaves, crossing the main Did like a vagabond ore Gallia roam, To seek the stone hee could not find at home. But having searcht that land of slaves in vain, Cent livres hee from his Abbee did drain For wafting back his varnisht nose again. [f. 181v] “Lost bee the name of that perjurious Imp That was so soon transmuted to a Pimp, With Viper-wine kindling Venereall flame Through all the Court & all the’Courtly Dames. 800 “Then enter th’ Barber, th’ unlearnd Alchymist, The weaver, fidler & the Uxbridge Priest— For each Mechanick in this seeking age Must act his part upon the Chymick stage. But O, no more, now turn thy pious eys 805 Forever from this land of miserys.” Thus Saturn spoke, showing the diffrent state Of the rewards & punishments that fate Bestowd on diffrent lives. But as wee came Nearer the source of this celestiall flame, 810 Wee met whole tides of those good souls half blest With sophick revelations, who possest Onely the borders of the promist land. In vain, around each stretcht his longing hand To bee admitted in, but stood in aw [f. 182r] Of hard necessity’s eternall law: Forbid to come within the sacred bound, Till time again had turnd his circle round. And Saturn checkt ’um: “What rash flames inspire Your zealous minds with such a fond desire, 820 To hope to frustrate the severe decree Writ in the volumes of eternity!” They shrunk away, & as hee spoke, behold I saw seav’n more adornd with crowns of Gold; Their robes were purple all, & purple rays, 825 Like majesty, surrounded ev’ry face. “O there is one that I must surely know, Surely I knew him in the world below; So did hee look, with such a heav’nly grace, When in th’ untimely middle of his race 830 Hee stoopt to death. So Roman storys tell The valiant Decii for their Country fell. O gentle father Saturn, let mee stay, Till at this altar I my offrings pay: Afford mee but the comfort of a day [f. 182v] To give him.” But O, I’me torn away, The hurrying orbs will grant mee no delay; Th’ inexorable fates refuse to hear Th’ intreatys of a mollifying tear. Are not their laws too rigid & severe? 840 Then did wee reach the adamantine gate, Where, clad in robes like driven snow, there sate A bright Angelick Century. I showd The peacefull signall of my golden rod, And had admittance. All the bending spires 845 And bowing towrs saluted us; the Quires Of heaven sung three Alleluiahs In their Omnipotent Creatour’s praise, That hee vouchsaf’d to hasten on the day For which the just unanimously pray. 850 “But father Saturn, what is this I see? Mansions like those of blest eternity, Yet uninhabited?” “O son,” said hee, “There are but few whom fate has chosen forth To disengage their souls from sordid earth, [f. 183r] And lift their minds so high. But O, behold, In that bright palace all of massy gold The rev’rend Synod is Assembled. Here My treasures I deposite, here my care And labour finds a welcome end; my sphere, 860 To which Fate now commands me to retire, Wonders so long to want its usuall fire.” [f. 184r]